ISBS-sfax University, Tunisia.
Dr. Faouzi Ben Rebah is an Associate Professor of Environmental & Applied Biotechnology at the Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Sfax, Tunisia, with a career spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and North America. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, he bridges academic research and applied environmental solutions focused on wastewater, sludge valorization, and converting industrial and natural biomaterials—like cactus, aloe, and marine by‑products—into eco‑efficient treatment agents. His work advances low‑cost bioflocculants, biopolymers, and microbial processes that support water reuse, pollution mitigation, and circular bioeconomy transitions in water‑stressed regions.
Professional Profile
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🎓 Education
Dr. Ben Rebah’s training combines environmental engineering, water sciences, and applied bioprocessing across internationally recognized institutions. He earned his PhD in Water Sciences (2002) from the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS), Québec, Canada—building on a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (1998) at Université de Sherbrooke. Earlier, he completed a Bachelor in Biological Engineering (1996) at ENIS, Sfax, Tunisia, and subsequently broadened his capabilities with a Certificate in English (2000, Queen’s University, Canada) and advanced specialization programs, including Industrial Effluents Treatment & Residuals Management (2013, UNESCO‑IHE, Delft). He also earned the Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR) in Biological Engineering (2009) from ENIS, confirming his leadership in supervising advanced research.
💼 Experience
Currently an Associate Professor at the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sfax (2021–present), Dr. Ben Rebah teaches and mentors across biological wastewater treatment, physicochemical treatment, environmental biotechnology, microbiology, bioreactors, and chemistry. His international career includes a seven‑year Associate Professorship at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia (2014–2021) and earlier faculty and research appointments at INSTM Sfax, University of Sfax, Université de Saint‑Boniface (Canada), and INRS Québec, where he also served as a research assistant during graduate study. His teaching portfolio ranges from lab‑scale bioprocess design to industrial wastewater applications, and he actively supports technology transfer through collaborative projects spanning Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, India, Canada, and the broader MENA region.
🔬 Research Interests
Dr. Ben Rebah focuses on sustainable water and sludge management, with emphasis on replacing petroleum‑derived or synthetic treatment chemicals with bio‑sourced flocculants extracted from cactus, aloe, date palm waste, and microbial cultures. He explores bioconversion of industrial and marine by‑products into enzymes, biopolymers (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates), biosurfactants, and nutrient carriers; develops cost‑efficient biological and hybrid water treatment trains; and evaluates biosorption, enzymatic degradation, and nanocomposite‑assisted contaminant removal for metals, dyes, and emerging pollutants. His work also tracks antibiotic residues, improves sludge dewaterability, and supports resource recovery toward circular bioeconomy models in arid and coastal regions.
🏅 Awards
Recognized for advancing applied environmental biotechnology, Dr. Ben Rebah has held competitive international scholarships—including AUF (Université de Sherbrooke, 2014), MENA UNESCO‑IHE water scholarship (2013), and multi‑year INRS Canada awards during graduate research. He’s contributed as Scientific Committee member (ISBS 2024), special issue editor (Journal of Amino Acids: Enzymes & Proteins from Marine Resources), and peer reviewer for journals such as Process, Water, Environmental Technology, and Water Science & Technology. His patent on cactus juice as a natural flocculant for industrial wastewater (2015/0063) reflects his translation of regional biomass into green treatment technologies.
📚 Top Noted Publications
2023 – Water – Y. H. Mansour et al. (incl. F. Ben Rebah). Could Plant‑Based Flocculants Substitute the Conventional Synthetic Chemicals in the Sludge Dewatering Process? Water 15(14):2602. Read Article. Cited by: check Google Scholar / Scopus for current numbers.
2023 – Energies – W. Mnif & F. Ben Rebah. Bioflocculants as Alternative to Synthetic Polymers to Enhance Wastewater Sludge Dewaterability: A Review. Energies 16(8):3392. Read Article. Cited by: see Google Scholar citation index.
2023 – Academic Journal of Polymer Science – B. Ben Rebah, W. Mnif, F. Ben Rebah. Plant‑Based Flocculants: Alternative Materials to Synthetic Polymers for Sludge Dewatering. Acad. J. Polym. Sci. 6(1):555680. Read Article. Locate article via journal archive; cited by: verify in Google Scholar.
2022 – Processes – K. M. Katubi et al. (incl. F. Ben Rebah). Aloe vera as Promising Material for Water Treatment: A Review. Processes 9(5):782. Read Article. Cited by: track via Google Scholar / Dimensions.
2021 – Applied Sciences – N. S. Alsaiari et al. (incl. F. Ben Rebah). Polyethylenimine‑Modified Magnetic Chitosan for the Uptake of Arsenic from Water. Applied Sciences 11(12):5630. Read Article. Cited by: see Google Scholar & Web of Science.
2021 – Materials – A. Amari et al. (incl. F. Ben Rebah). Clay‑Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparations and Utilization for Pollutants Removal. Materials 14(6):1365. Read Article. Cited by: check Google Scholar metrics.
2019 – Environmental Engineering & Management Journal – M. Khadhraoui et al. (incl. F. Ben Rebah). Cactus Juice Preparations as Bioflocculant: Properties, Characteristics and Application. EEMJ 18(1):137‑146. Read Article (search by title if link redirects). Cited by: consult Google Scholar for updated totals.
2018 – Symmetry – S. M. Siddeeg, W. Mnif, F. Ben Rebah. Microbial Flocculants as an Alternative to Synthetic Polymers for Wastewater Treatment: A Review. Symmetry 10(11):556. Read Article. Cited by: view citation counts in Google Scholar.
2017 – J. Mater. & Environ. Sci. – F. Ben Rebah & S. E. Siddeeg. Cactus: An Eco‑Friendly Material for Wastewater Treatment—A Review. J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 8(5):1770‑1782. Read Article (search article title). Cited by: check Google Scholar tracking.
2002 – Bioresource Technology – F. Ben Rebah, R. D. Tyagi, D. Prévost. Wastewater Sludge as a Substrate for Growth and Carrier for Rhizobia. Bioresource Technology 83:145‑151. Read Article (publisher access). Cited by: see historical impact in Google Scholar / Scopus.
Conclusion
Dr. Faouzi Ben Rebah is highly suitable for the Visionary Research Impact Award. His pioneering work in sustainable wastewater treatment, bio-based solutions, and global research collaborations positions him as a leader driving impactful change in environmental biotechnology. With an outstanding academic track record, funded projects, and applied innovations, he exemplifies the qualities this award seeks to honor. Strategic improvements in commercialization and public outreach can further strengthen his visionary research impact.